half-unit biased posit numbers arithmetic using fused multiply

accumulation units
Abstract:

The integration of half-unit biased posit numbers with fused multiply-accumulate (FMA)
units presents a novel approach to enhancing precision and efficiency in numerical
computing. Posit numbers, an alternative to traditional floating-point representations, offer
superior dynamic range and accuracy, particularly for small values. By applying a half-unit
bias, the posit exponent is adjusted to further minimize rounding errors in arithmetic
operations. When combined with FMA units, which perform multiplication and accumulation
in a single step with just one rounding operation, this approach significantly improves
computational accuracy and hardware efficiency. This paper explores the design and
implementation of a half-unit biased posit FMA unit in Verilog, demonstrating its potential in
applications such as scientific computing, machine learning, and real-time processing, where
precision and performance are critical. The results indicate that this method not only reduces
the error propagation common in traditional arithmetic but also enhances the overall
computational throughput in hardware implementations.

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving field of numerical computing, the demand for high precision and
efficient arithmetic operations has become increasingly critical, particularly in applications
such as scientific computing, machine learning, and real-time data processing. Traditional
floating-point arithmetic, governed by the IEEE 754 standard, has been the cornerstone of
numerical computation for decades. However, it is often plagued by limitations in precision,
especially when dealing with small numbers, and can suffer from significant rounding errors
during complex operations.

Posit numbers, introduced as part of the Universal Number (unum) system, offer a
compelling alternative to floating-point representations. Posits provide a flexible and
dynamic range of values, coupled with improved accuracy, especially for smaller magnitudes.
Their unique structure, which includes a sign bit, regime, exponent, and fraction, allows them
to represent numbers with greater precision and efficiency compared to traditional floating-
point formats.
A key advancement in posit arithmetic is the concept of half-unit biasing. By applying a half-
unit bias to the exponent, the representation of small numbers becomes even more accurate,
reducing the rounding errors that commonly occur in critical computations. This refinement
is particularly valuable in iterative algorithms and applications requiring high precision
across a wide dynamic range.

The fused multiply-accumulate (FMA) unit is a fundamental building block in modern

computing architectures. FMA units perform the operation (a×b)+c(a \times b) + c(a×b)+c in
a single, fused step, ensuring that only one rounding error occurs. This operation is not only
faster than performing separate multiplication and addition steps but also significantly
improves the precision of the result by avoiding intermediate rounding errors.

In this paper, we explore the integration of half-unit biased posit numbers with FMA units,
aiming to leverage the strengths of both systems to achieve superior computational accuracy
and efficiency. We present the design and implementation of a fused multiply-accumulate
unit that operates on half-unit biased posit numbers, written in Verilog, a hardware
description language widely used for designing and modeling digital systems.

Through this integration, we aim to address the shortcomings of traditional floating-point

arithmetic, offering a more robust solution for high-precision computing. The proposed
architecture not only improves the accuracy of multiply-accumulate operations but also
enhances the overall performance of hardware implementations, making it suitable for a wide
range of computationally intensive applications.

Literature Review

1. Half-Unit Biased Posit Numbers:

 Introduction and Benefits: The concept of half-unit biased (HUB) posit numbers has
been introduced to address the precision limitations inherent in traditional floating-
point systems, especially for representing small values. By applying a half-unit bias to
the exponent, this format effectively reduces rounding errors, making it particularly
suitable for high-precision arithmetic required in scientific computing and machine
learning.

 Recent Implementations: Several recent works have explored the implementation of

HUB in various arithmetic operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication,
 and division. The primary focus has been on reducing hardware complexity while
maintaining or improving computational accuracy.

2. Fused Multiply-Accumulate (FMA) Units:

 Role in Computing: FMA units are critical in modern processors due to their ability
to perform multiplication and addition in a single, fused operation. This not only
speeds up computation but also minimizes the rounding errors that typically
accumulate when these operations are performed separately.

 FMA and Posits: The integration of FMA units with posit arithmetic, particularly
with HUB posits, is a growing area of research. FMA units tailored for posit numbers
leverage the dynamic range and precision benefits of posits, leading to more accurate
results in operations like dot products, matrix multiplications, and other
computationally intensive tasks.

3. Combined Approach: HUB Posit Numbers with FMA:

 Enhanced Precision and Efficiency: Recent studies have demonstrated that

combining HUB posit numbers with FMA units can significantly enhance both
precision and efficiency in arithmetic operations. The single-step operation of FMA,
coupled with the precision of HUB posits, reduces error propagation, making this
combination highly effective for applications requiring high numerical stability.

 Hardware Implementations: Some research has focused on implementing these

combined units in hardware, particularly in FPGA and ASIC designs. These
implementations aim to optimize the trade-offs between power, area, and
performance, making the approach viable for real-world applications.

4. Challenges and Future Directions:

 Complexity in Design: One of the challenges in integrating HUB posits with FMA
units is the increased complexity in the hardware design. Handling the dynamic range
and precision of posits requires sophisticated circuitry, which can lead to higher
power consumption and area usage.

 Applications and Impact: Future research is likely to explore the application of this
technology in more domains, such as deep learning, where precision is crucial.
 Additionally, efforts will continue to refine the hardware implementations to make
them more energy-efficient and scalable.

Existing work:

HUB FP is defined as an FP number whose mantissa is a HUB fixed-point number and its
exponent is a conventional one. That means the mantissa has an iLSB set to one, and
consequently, each HUB FP number corresponds to the middle point of two consecutive FP
ones. That allows performing rounding-to-nearest by an actual truncation and two’s
complement by bit inversion. This simplification at the logic level produces remarkable
savings in the hardware implementation of FP arithmetic units [15], [16]. Posits only use
round-to-nearest, making them a great candidate for using the HUB approach. However,
unlike HUB FP, which only applies the HUB approach to the mantissa (the only field
rounded in FP), posits require the HUB approach to be applied to the entire posit number
since posits might also require rounding the exponent. Considering this, we define a HUB
posit as a posit number with an iLSB set to one, except for the zero value.

Architecture of a HUB posit decoder and decoder modules

Hence, an N-bit HUB posit is like a TABLE I CONVENTIONAL AND HUB VALUES
FOR POSIT6 Fig. 2. Architecture of a HUB posit decoder and decoder modules.
conventional (N +1)-bit posit but has the LSB implicit and is always set to one.
Consequently, the iLSB is part of either the regime, if there is no negated regime bit in the
posit number; the exponent, if such a field has less than two bits; or the fraction, if the posit
number has the maximum number of exponent bits. The introduction of the iLSB produces
that, in the HUB version, the numbers exactly represented by the conventional posit format
are shifted to the midpoint between those and the next posit number (in logarithmic scale
when affecting the exponent). Consequently, round-to-nearest is obtained by truncating either
the fraction or the exponent when coding a HUB posit number. Table I shows several
examples comparing the values represented for conventional and HUB 6-bit posit numbers.
The r, e, and f columns represent the corresponding values in (2) extracted from the bit
representation, including the iLSB for the HUB version. Notice how the HUB format always
results in values greater than the corresponding posit in both positive and negative cases,
since all values are biased in the same direction.

Proposed Work:

In computing, fused multiply-accumulate (FMA) units are hardware components that perform
multiplication and addition in a single step with just one rounding error, rather than two. This
operation is particularly useful in applications requiring high precision, such as scientific
computing, graphics, and machine learning. When using half-unit biased posit numbers with
FMA units, the arithmetic benefits from both the accuracy of posits and the precision of FMA
operations.
Overview of Fused Multiply-Accumulate (FMA)

 FMA Operation: The operation computes (a×b)+c(a \times b) + c(a×b)+c in a single

step, which is faster and more accurate than performing multiplication and addition
separately. The result of the multiplication is directly added to the third operand, and
the rounding happens only once after the addition.

 Hardware Efficiency: FMA units are designed to minimize errors, making them
highly efficient for complex arithmetic operations.

Half-Unit Biased Posit Numbers

As previously discussed, half-unit biased posit numbers are a numerical representation with a
bias that allows for more accurate representation of small numbers. The half-unit bias is
particularly advantageous in reducing rounding errors in the representation of small values.

Combining Half-Unit Biased Posits with FMA Units

When using FMA units with half-unit biased posit numbers, several advantages emerge:

1. Increased Precision:

o The half-unit bias in posit numbers ensures more precise representation of

small values, which complements the FMA's ability to reduce rounding errors.
The combination leads to more accurate results in multiplication and
accumulation operations.

2. Reduced Rounding Errors:

o Since FMA performs multiplication and addition in one step with a single
rounding, the combination with half-unit biased posit numbers further reduces
the rounding errors associated with small numbers. This is particularly
important in iterative algorithms where errors can accumulate over many
operations.

3. Efficiency in Hardware Implementation:

o FMA units can be optimized for posit arithmetic, taking advantage of the
regime, exponent, and fraction structure in posits. This means that the FMA
unit can perform more efficient computations by leveraging the dynamic range
and precision benefits of posits.

4. Applications in Machine Learning and Scientific Computing:

o Machine learning algorithms, particularly those involving deep learning,

require high precision during training and inference. The combination of half-
unit biased posits with FMA units provides the necessary precision while also
being hardware efficient.

o In scientific computing, where numerical stability and precision are critical,

using this combination can lead to more accurate simulations and
computations.
Key Components

1. Posit Number Representation: Posit numbers are typically represented with a sign
bit, regime bits, exponent bits, and fraction (mantissa) bits.

2. Half-Unit Bias: This is the bias applied to the exponent in the posit representation.

3. Fused Multiply-Accumulate (FMA): A unit that performs the multiplication and

addition in one step with a single rounding.

Conclusion:

Using fused multiply-accumulate units with half-unit biased posit numbers

provides a powerful combination for numerical computations requiring high
precision. The synergy between the accuracy of posits and the efficiency of
FMA units results in reduced rounding errors and more precise calculations,
particularly in domains such as scientific computing and machine learning.